Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, City Councilors Rick Dalla Valle, Elinor Carbone, Thomas Jerram, Drake Waldron and Marie Soliani, Police Chief Michael Maniago, Fire Chief John Field, Deputy Police Chief Christopher Smedick, Deputy Fire Chief Gary Brunoli, Officer Robert Shopey, Board of Public Safety Commissioner James Potter, Board of Finance Member Wendy Traub and Comptroller Alice Proulx. City Councilor Paul Samele was absent.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT #50 After Mayor Bingham made a recommendation to cut this budget by $2300, Councilor Carbone made a motion, seconded by Councilor Waldron, to tentatively approve the Economic Development Department budget. It was unanimously approved.
RECREATION #103 Mayor Bingham recommended this budget be cut by 2.21%. On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Recreation Department budget.
COE PARK FUND #115 On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Coe Park Fund budget.
BOARD OF TAX REVIEW #130 On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Board of Tax Review budget.
BOARDS AND AGENCIES #185 Mayor Bingham recommended the following budgets be reduced to last year's funding level: FISH, Conservation Commission, LARC, Contract RHMB, Housatonic Valley Assoc., NW Conservation, Crime stoppers, Susan B. Anthony, Torrington Day Care Center, NW Ctr., Hospice, TECC, and Friendly Hand. He will send a letter to each, after the budget season, asking them to talk to the Council about where the money goes and how it benefits Torrington residents. He said he tried to be as fair as possible across the board. On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Boards and Agencies budget. Councilor Dalla Valle said he thinks it's unfair to bring Friendly Hands down to zero since it's their first time request, and recommended a reduction instead.
FRIENDLY HANDS #211 Councilor Dalla Valle made a motion to add $4777 to the budget for Friendly Hands food bank, seconded by Councilor Waldron. The Council voted 2/3 with Councilors Carbone, Jerram and Soliani opposed and the motion failed. Mayor Bingham added that he will send a letter to Friendly Hands so they can be included next year.
COUNCIL #249 Councilor Soliani suggested this budget be rejected as it was last year, saying If we're going to ask City employees to make sacrifices, City Council should step up to the plate and be the first ones to do that. On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the City Council budget. Comptroller Proulx pointed out there is $270 included in this budget which was previously slated for the purchase of water in the Council Chambers. On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the City Council budget without the inclusion of $270 for water.
MAYOR #332 On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Mayor's Department budget.
BOND REDEMPTION #349 On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Bond Redemption budget. Councilor Jerram asked for an update from the Treasurer.
BOND INTEREST #370 On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Bond Interest budget.
INSURANCE #397 On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Insurance budget, with an additional $15,000 recommended by the Mayor.
PENSION & BENEFITS #414 On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Pension and Benefits budget.
TAX COLLECTOR #426 On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Tax Collector budget.
CONTINGENCY #442 On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Contingency budget with the Mayor's recommended reduction of $27,775.
DATA PROCESSING #55 On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Data Processing Department budget of $476,695. Councilor Dalla Valle questioned the Salary II line item. Mayor Bingham explained the previously-approved higher rate was applied to this budget in order to obtain a more highly-qualified candidate for the job opening. Councilor Carbone pointed out that the job requirements had changed, not for the
person, but for the position.
DISPATCH #197 Councilor Carbone asked if dispatch uniforms were a contractual obligation. Chief Maniago said he wants a professional appearance for these employees. On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted 4/1 to tentatively approve the Dispatch budget, with Councilor Soliani opposed.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT #218 On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Emergency Management budget.
FIRE #237 On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Fire Department budget.
CANINE #275 On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Canine budget.
TRAFFIC #290 On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Traffic Department budget.
POLICE #305 The new School Resource Officer position to be split with the Board of Education was discussed. Councilor Dalla Valle asked for a clarification of the split. Chief Maniago explained the SRO will be a current officer, and the salary being split is for a new hire replacement. Chief Maniago said quotes have been obtained for outside vendors including landscaping, pest control, cell phones, and the custodian which could add up to $1000 in savings, but he's not
sure of the figures. Councilor Carbone asked about the possibility of global facilities care. Mayor Bingham said he learned there have been discussions with the Board of Education in the past, and he will ask Mr. Rollett to look into an overall plan for facilities and grounds maintenance. There might be a few shared service recommendations for next budget season, he said.
Councilor Carbone questioned the 2.5 additional staff members being added, given the current fiscal state we're facing, saying it's not the time to be adding personnel. Chief Maniago said he will not assign an SRO to the middle school unless that officer is replaced by a new hire.
Councilor Carbone made a motion to reduce the Police budget by $105,400 for two new officers. Councilor Waldron seconded the motion. Councilor Dalla Valle said that because of these economic times, more officers are needed and it is not a time to cut Public Safety because when times get bad, things on the street get worse. Councilor Soliani said that she hopes unions will see that some type of giveback is in their best interest to prevent layoffs and allow for new hires. Chief Maniago explained the new hires were meant to provide direct supervision over the new dispatch and a new detective because six detectives handled 984 investigations last year. Councilor Carbone said other economies should be found within the budget to accommodate new hires. Councilor Waldron questioned the need for a full-time SRO at the middle school. Councilor Carbone agreed saying middle school students' days are very structured and she would support a SRO there with a complete evaluation and some assessment brought back to the Board of Public Safety to see how effective the SRO is at that location. The motion to reduce the Police budget by $105,400 was passed 3/2 with Councilors Jerram and Dalla Valle opposed. On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted 4/1 to tentatively approve the Police budget of $8,167,420 with Councilor Dalla Valle opposed.
PUBLIC SAFETY MISC./VOLUNTEERS #882 On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to move $5000 from the Contribution VFD line item to the Compliance Testing line item. On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Public Safety Miscellaneous budget of $1,850,658. ADJOURNMENT #938 Councilor Jerram made a motion to adjourn at 6:45 p.m., seconded by Councilor Waldron and unanimously approved.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted, Carol L. Anderson, CCTC Asst. City Clerk |
